Ilisewa Mendoza, right, gets some exercise in one of the new fitness rooms during Friday’s FUN Club open house.

HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin

FUN Club Program Inc. has a new location with more room and amenities.

But, according to Rev. Quincy McClain, the message remains the same: “Education, education, education,” she said on Friday.

McClain is the director for FUN – an acronym for Friday Unity Night in the Neighborhood – for the past six years. The previous five were held at her Southside Christian Church at 314 Locust Ave., Manteca.

“Every Friday night after the FUN Club, we had to flip things around (back to a church),” McClain said.

That meant moving a 2,000-pound billiard table, Foosball tables, and other equipment since a Seventh Day Adventist group needed the church on Saturdays, McClain noted.

She won’t have that problem with the new place at 602 E. Yosemite Ave. Manteca, formerly home to the afterschool tutorial program, Give Every Child A Chance.

“We still have to figure how to get the pool table over here,” McClain said the open house and sign-up event.

She’s thrilled to have nearly five times the space as that of her church. McClain thanked donors for providing some of the extras. For example, she indicated that a doctor’s office in Modesto recently closed down gave the FUN Club examining tables and scale.

“We want our young people to live long and healthy, and avoid getting chronic illnesses later on in life,” said McClain.

One way of doing that is education through fitness and nutrition. The FUN Club is equipped with plenty of exercise equipment, including one room at the new place filled with stationary bikes.

Nutrition includes fresh fruits, healthier eating habits and, of course, eliminating the bad stuff such as soda. “That’s what often leads to childhood obesity,” McClain said of the latter.

The new FUN Club venue also has a music room, video game room, indoor bounce house, and a multi-purpose room on the bottom floor.

Plans for a second-story room call for making it ‘The Eagles Nest’ exclusively for high school students.

The FUN Club is a free program for youngsters age 6-17 that officially kicks off on June 7. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening is planned with dignitaries, color guards, and guest speakers.

Registration continues next Friday (May 10) and the following Friday (May 17), from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on both days.

FUN Club, in addition, will have a theme for each month. June is “You are What You Eat, Drink & Think.”

July is “Say No to Gangs, Drugs, and Crime” month.

August is “Be Cool, Stay in School.”

Volunteers are also being accepted. Needed are those who are knowledgeable or experienced in healthcare, physical fitness, electronics, nutrition, administrative, and security. They must be at least age 16 and enjoy interacting with students. Proof of ID is required. Background checks will be conducted on those 18 and older.

For more information, call 209-275-2154 or e-mail q.mcclain@comcast.net.